Abstract
We recorded changes of nasal respiratory resistance by continuous nasal stimulation by inhalation of methacholine in time course using asthgraphy and then estimated quantitatively hyperresponsiveness of the nasal mucosa.
The obtained asthgram was analyzed to obtain the following 3 indexes: initial nasal respiratory resistance (Rrs. cont), integrated dose until the point where the respiratory resistance begins to raise (Dmin), Sd (ΔRrs/Dose) calculated from the increase in resistance after one minute inhalat ion from Dmin (ΔRrs) and the dose during that period (Dose). Here Rrs. cont indicates nasal respiratory resistance immediately before provocation, Dmin indicates sensitivity of nasal mucosa and Sd reflects reactivity of nasal mucosa.
Non-specific nasal provocation test was performed by asthgraphy, and dose-response curves were analyzed in the group of nasal allergy having anamnesis of bronchial asthma during childhood, the group of allergic rhinitis and the group of non-airway allergy. As a result, these 3 groups were clearly discriminated. There was no difference in Rrs. cont among the 3 groups, but Dmin was the lowest in the group of nasal allergy having anamnesis of bronchial asthma, followed by the group of allergic rhinitis and the group of non-airway allergy, becoming higher in this order. Sd was the largest in the group of nasal allergy having anamnesis of bronchial asthma, becoming smaller in the order of the group of allergic rhinitis and the group of non-airway allergy.
From the above results, it is considered that hyperresponsiveness of the nasal mucosa consists of two factors, i.e. sensitivity and reactivity.
